Soviet twist to alliance N-talks

Press, 15 May 1987, Page 6

Soviet twist to alliance N-talks

NZPA-Reuter Stavanger N.A.T.O. Defence Ministers begin a closed-door meeting today faced with a divisive debate over Soviet offers to slash nuclear missile arsenals in Europe.

The Ministers from 14 N.A.T.O. States, meeting in the Norwegian coastal city of Stavanger under heavy guard, will discuss the impact on nuclear strategy of Soviet terms for a super-Power treaty to scrap medium-range (1.N.F.) missiles in Europe.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation broadly favours such a United States-Soviet agreement, but a linked Soviet offer to abolish shorter-range weapons has brought anguish to the alliance by arousing fears that this could weaken nuclear strategy. Underscoring the gravity of the problem, the American Defence Secretary, Mr Caspar Weinberger, will hold a series of bilateral meetings with some of his allied counterparts, including George Younger of Britain and Manfred Woerner of West Germany, before today’s meeting starts. The 14 allies, excluding France and Iceland which do not belong to the alliance’s integrated military command, are meeting in regular session for two days as N.A.T.O.’s Nuclear Planning Group which reviews nuclear strength and strategy. The Ministers, accompanied by national chiefs-of-staff and senior N.A.T.O. military, were meeting in a central Stavanger hotel, sealed off to the public and encircled by Norwegian police and Army sharpshooters.